SingingWithTheVolumeUp

Don’t sing happy birthday to me

While in a store I saw a pretty awesome device.

I said “Gosh I need to find someone to buy that for as a gift”. Someone I met just that day looked at me and said “You! You are that person; get it for yourself.” It was a quick moment. We laughed. I left.

After a rough night, for reasons unimportant to this post, I came back to that statement. “Get it for yourself.”

Learning to treat myself JUST as good as I do family, friends, and even strangers is really hard for me. I know cliche, right? But, seriously I mean it.

At a young age I starting asking people to stop singing happy birthday to me because it made me feel uncomfortable. We would sit at restaurants on that special day and I would cringe when I saw the birthday gang rush to a patron with a cupcake, candle, and crazy jack o lantern tempo music to wish them another blissful year.

One year I planned a surprise weekend trip to NYC for my husbands’ birthday. Packed his bags, met him at work with plane tickets, and saw the sites of NYC. That same year I refused to go to the hair salon because it cost too much.

I’ve bought my daughter three dresses for her first birthday. Last week I gauged a hole into my belt because it had gotten too big.

Guilt settles in when I do something for just myself. But I think it’s deeper than that. I get a KICK out of saving, cutting out something, repurposing myself with little to nothing. And, to be even more honest selfishness makes me furious.

But is it selfishness I hate or confidence I lack to just love myself wholeheartedly? Not a question I’m ready to answer. Don’t have to. Realizing more and more it’s ok not to rush to answer every question asked. Sometimes…often we should just reflect. Stop. Sit still. Let the answer come to us rather than chasing it down like it stole your ice cream cone.

But why do we run? What are we really chasing? What is on that cone?

Always with love,

Modo

Genesis ONE year update:

Genesis,
It’s happened! You are officially ONE! I thought long and hard about what I wanted this post to be. First it won’t include any pictures…well because Mommy got a new phone and her computer crashed, so those will come later. But the more I thought about it, that was ok because I just want to talk to you….uninterrupted…no distractions.

As you move into year two there are a few hopes and wishes I want you to hold on to as this year progresses:

1. I hope you stop opening all the DVD cases and taking the movies out. The joy you get doing this seems unparrell to any punishment I could give you, so I just let you do it. However, for the sake of my sanity I pray you find another hobby….soon!

2. Continue to love your car seat….please! We have a lot of trips planned this year, at least in our heads. And since we are pinching pennies they don’t include a plane, train, but yes an automobile. You keep rollin and I’ll keep all the toys and snacks coming your way.

3. Keep smiling. You are already the most beautiful girl I know, but gosh when you smile it makes the rain go away.

4. Share with Elmo, not just Mommy. You know that food you stuck in your mouth, hated, drooled on, and decided it was the worst thing you ever ate? Share that with Elmo…Mommy is full. And Elmo told me he loves that stuff. Promise.

5. Paper isn’t food. Just thought I remind you.

6. When you play and get really excited then run over to me and hug me…keep doing that please. Even when you turn 15. I promise I will always hug back.

7. I pray Mommy’s panties stop being a fascination while she pee pees. Its kind of hard to go number 1, protect my loins,and wipe at the same time.

8. Cheese is good, I know! Trust me! But we can’t eat blocks of it for lunch. They will put me in jail if I keep giving it to you. See; not my fault.

9. I pray you keep running around in a excited frantic state when Daddy gets off work. It makes him (and me) so happy.

10. Lastly, I hope you dance. Ha! Ok one day you will get that joke. I hope, pray, and wish with all my heart you never ever stop being you. Because guess what you are perfect. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.

I love you so much baby girl. You are my joy. Happy birthday sweetheart!

(Sorry to all our readers that this is so late. Its been quite a crazy few months).

Always with love,

Mom

Genesis 11 month update: Imagine the possibilities

Hey Sugarplum,

It’s happening! You are about to turn one and I swear the closer it gets the more I can’t believe it to be true. It’s like I want to pretend that you are still just a 7lbs baby coming home from the hospital, but you are far from that! You have begun developing into a little girl. This is your last full month of being a “baby” but I think you skipped that memo and jumped full fledge into being a toddler. Your imagination these days is VAST! Don’t tell anyone but one day while washing dishes I lost you! I called for you…no answer. I checked EVERY room and you weren’t there. I panicked! I went back to your room and literally just stood in the middle of your room and yelled “Genesis”! Unless we were experiencing the rapture I knew you had to be in the house somewhere. Then it happened…I heard a giggle…I walked over to your closet and there you were: HIDING!

You thought it was the most hilarious thing ever. I’ll admit I did too….after I calmed down. But that story practically sums up this month for us; it’s been fun! You understand so much now. Daddy catches himself all the time saying “she’s just so smart; she’s a real little kid”! No matter how big you get you will always be Mommys baby girl. That 7lbs baby girl that looked at me the second she was born, laid her head on my chest, and pooped all over me!

Uncle Patrick came to visit

Your first photo booth

Disneyland for Cousin Zoe’s birthday

A Sunday evening at church

Other things that happened this month:
-you got your FIRST tooth!
– you have started sleeping through the night for longer spans of time which is AWESOME for Mommy
-you have favorite toys and shows now

You love:
-Elmo ( the way you light up when he laughs is priceless! )
-learning (you are a sponge! You take everything in and exam it critically. You have started saying Mom, bird, bath, no, and signing all done)
-dancing (anytime any music comes on you are shaking and wiggling)
-fake laughing (honestly anything that involves pretending you get a kick out of which includes peek a boo, hiding, and acting out characters of books)
-clapping (usually for yourself)
-drinking out of a straw (you love your sippy cup! After you are done you close it so politely like a big girl)
-making friends ( when we go to the Playgym you walk up to all the kids handing them toys and trying to get then to chase you. I love you are so friendly, sweet, and kind)

You could pass on:
-the beach (you hated the sand)
-skipping breakfast (if you don’t have it anger ensues quickly lol)

Happy 11 months Genesis!

Always with love,

Mom

Product Review: Garnier Fructis

Hey Loves,

I’m back with a new product review! After neglecting my hair for over a week (seriously didn’t touch it) because I was caring for a tiny cranky teething baby girl I needed something that would do wonders on my hair. I needed something that would give me good slip (when I tell y’all just putting it in four sections was torture), get it clean, and was inexpensive.

I’ve been eyeing this conditioner for a while and never took the plunge. But while strolling the aisle of Target (for the third time this week) I decided to jump all in.

So what was it: Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Conditioner

My thoughts on the product:

Price: For less than $5 bucks I can not complain (Found in Target but sold in all grocery stores, drug stores, and Walmart). After washing I still had over 3/4 bottle left and I have a lot of hair! So I was impressed with how many washes I will get out of just one bottle.

Smell: Light. Sometimes with natural products the smell can be daunting but this had a very fresh and light aroma. Reminded me of Victoria Secret Green Apple scent.

Application: I applied about a quarter size amount to each section. It does NOT lather so naturally I wanted to apply more and was leery if it would get my hair clean. But once I rinsed I heard the glorious “squeaking” noise and was impressed.

Overall: would I buy it again?

YES!

That picture was well over 30 minutes after getting out the shower and chasing a nearly one year old. I also DID NOT comb out hair…not even finger detangling and look how great it looks.

Deets below for how I washed my hair.

Final Results

Close up of hair

Steps I took:

-Sectioned it off into four
-Jumped in shower (after baby was asleep of course)
-Wet one section for about 30 seconds while pulling down (wanted the hair saturated)
-Took a quarter size amount of product and applied
-Made sure to hold ends when scrubbing with other hand to avoid tangles
-For about another 30 seconds I rubbed hair in a downward motion to assist with detangling (conditioner still in)
-Rinsed section
-Applied a very SMALL amount of Cantu Leave In (well because I only had about a handful left in the jar lol)
-Wrapped section in Bantu knot and proceeded to next section
-After all sections complete I left hair in Bantu knots and took Tshirt and pressed excess moisture out.

Always with love,

Modo

Sneak Away Sundays (#1)

Thank you all who sent in stories! I had such an awesome time reading through them. I am so excited to start this new segment on the blog. I will feature 2-3 stories every Sunday (posting this one a little early as I have a busy day tomorrow), so feel free to continue to send your stories in (see details below).

Enjoy!

Hey SingingWithTheVolumeUp,

I love, love, love to sneak away! I have 3 crazy girls at home. Even if it’s just to the grocery store, or Walmart. I always walk around the entire store & sometimes stop at others just fore that little bit of extra time. It’s a great way to clear your head.

Momofateenagegirl

My most common sneak away is in the form of running errands. If I need to go to the grocery store or Target, etc., I will do it at a time when it is convenient for J to stay home with E. Oh, I run the errands alright. But I swing by Starbucks on my way out, grab a bite to eat somewhere so that I don’t have to share with anyone, run the errands and also stop in that store I’ve been eying for a while….you get the point!

My most guilty “sneak away” doesn’t actually involve me sneaking away; it’s me SENDING them away! “Hey, you should take E to play with M. It will be fun! Invite your friend too.” Both J and E are occupied and mommy is free to do whatever she wants….or nothing at all!

-K

Have a sneak away story you would like to share?! Email swtvolumeup@gmail.com and title your email “Sneak Away”.

Always with love,

Modo

Sneak Away!

You know those days you just need a break from your kids??!!! I recently spoke with a mom that took a much needed break from her tiny tot and to hear the rejuvenation in her voice was healing for me!

Today I went to ran errands as my husband watched the baby. Usually I rush to get back but on the way home I stopped, got a ice cream cone, and just sat. It was the best dang ice cream cone!!!!

Then I got to thinking I’m sure a TON of moms..and dads…do this…sneak aways for just a little break. Send me your funny stories and I will feature them on my blog. To submit a story follow guidelines below:

1. Email swtvolumeup@gmail.com

2. Title email: Sneak Away

3. Type up your story and make sure you let me know if you want it anonymous.

That’s it! Can’t wait to hear these stories.

Genesis 10 month update: Summertime Fun

Hey Munchkin,

Genesis!!!!! I am convinced you love your name because the look you give me while running down the hall, as I am yelling it, is pure joy. I guess we can call it running but really it’s a fast paced waddle; that tends to end in giggling falls down the hallway, as Daddy chases you laughing “I’m going to get you”. Pure joy. We laugh so much now. You make us realize that life is so sweet and to enjoy it more; you know don’t sweat the small stuff. Something else you have loved this month is all the summertime fun: you had your first time in the pool, went to pool parties, baby showers, and even the county fair. We have had a blast. We can’t wait to spend the rest of the summer outdoors; smiling and laughing the time away.

Other things we noticed:
-You have started sharing: you love putting food in our mouths, handing us toys
-You are trying your best to say words: Dad, dog, bye, hi, and mom are some of your favorites
-You wave hi and bye when Daddy leaves for work

You love:
-the water; either it be the pool, pool parties, or even the bathtub
-trying new foods, we have tried pasta and meat this month
-running down the hallway, especially when Daddy chases you

You could pass on:
-your own food; you absolutely love eating off Mommy’s plate
-shoes; we had the hardest time getting you to walk in shoes, we have tried over four pair now
-getting out of any body of water, there are always a lot of tears involved

Always with love,

Modo

Deep Conditioner

Always with love,

Modo

Seafood anyone

Here we go! My journey back to being a pescatarian. I was a vegetarian for about 1.5 years in my teen days and felt AMAZING. I had a few problems with not getting enough protein though so I am going to keep fish around this time. Beginning with axing out beef and pork…then slowly eliminating the rest. Any tips send them my way.

Minute with Modo (#18): Existing to die

Life.

It’s a tricky thing; sometimes.

If we make it.

Today I asked myself the hard question, are you living or are you merely existing to die?

Death.

It’s inevitable; no matter how hard we try.

And oh how we try.

It scares me.

Death.

Not the afterlife part.

The transition of ceasing to physically exist part.

That fraction of a millisecond where you transition into the forever part.

Because this is not forever.

No matter how hard we try.

And oh how we try.

But what is living?

Doing what you want? What makes you happy? What makes you smile?

How is happiness different from selfishness?

Do they not have the same components?

I read a quote yesterday that said, “we become each other “.

Reincarnation?

I don’t think that is exactly what the quote meant, but it seemed profound.

Most profound things have an element of WTF in them.

Life is a big WTF.

Sometimes.

If we makes it that way.

And oh how we do.

What makes life worth living when the outcome will always be the same?

Time.

Times makes life worth living because no one knows how much they have.

It’s a mystery, a big WTF really.

A big WTF.

With Time Feel.

WTF.

With time feel.

Feel that drop in your stomach knowing its going to run out.

Hold your breath.

Exhale…………………………

You’re still here.

Live.

Always with love,

Modo